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NFL Mock Draft 2012: 49ers Upgrade O-line With Former Badger

With the 30th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Kevin Zeitler, G, Wisconsin.

The 49ers are the defending NFC West champions. There defense was great. Their offense wasn't bad with Jim Harbaugh making fans believe in quarterback Alex Smith, who is back in the fold. They've bolstered their wide receiver spot and have two solid tight ends. They're deep at pretty much every position, so the key for SF is to go with best player available that they feel need when the Niners' turn to pick comes, and that player is... offensive guard Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin.

The Niners' war room realizes that choosing a guard in the first round is rare, but this draft has some first-round talent at the position and Zeitler played at run-oriented Wisconsin, where he went to back-to-back Rose Bowls. At 6-4 and 314 pounds, Zeitler is viewed as a perfectionist at his position and can bulldoze. He'll fill a hole the 49ers have at guard and should blend in well with a coach with a Big 10 background.

Pass or run, Zeitler is a solid option as a blocker and has late first-round/early second-round talent. He's a player at a need position for San Francisco, and SF doesn't need help at most positions.

The New England Patriots are on the clock. Jess Root will make their selection.

Previous Picks:

1. Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

2. Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

3. Minnesota Vikings: Matt Kalil, OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

6. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

8. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

9. Carolina Panthers: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina

10. Buffalo Bills: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi

12. Seattle Seahawks: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

14. Dallas Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

16. New York Jets: Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Michael Floyd, WR, Note Dame

18. San Diego Chargers: Cordy Glenn, OL, Georgia

19. Chicago Bears: Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

20. Tennessee Titans: Stephon Gilmore, CB,South Carolina

21. Cincinnati Bengals: David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

22. Cleveland Browns: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

23. Detroit Lions: Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

24. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, LB, Alabama

25. Denver Broncos: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

26. Houston Texans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

27. New England Patriots: Nick Perry, OLB, USC

28. Green Bay Packers: Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech